Did Flacco's rehab from a 2015 knee injury cause his up-and-down 2016 season? "The recovery from what everybody else says that they are not back completely, did that mess with his mind? Did that mess with his timing, his accuracy?" owner Steve Bisciotti pondered shortly after the season. "I think it did." Flacco disagreed, dismissing the idea that the lingering effects of the injury caused any of his struggles, but subsequently conceded the knee could still use some healing (i.e. it wasn't 100 percent in 2016). "When you are only seven or eight months out of an injury, no matter what it is, there is going to be a growing process for it," he said. Flacco set a franchise record for passing yards in a season with 4,317 -- the first time he'd broken 4,000 in his nine-year career. Yet he was woefully inconsistent while attempting a career-high 672 passes -- 58 more than his previous high in 2013. It's possible a healthier Flacco -- with an offense looking to make a more concerted effort to run the ball in order to take some pressure off their QB -- can be more efficient and productive this year.

Joe Flacco 2016 Outlook

Although he finished last season on IR, the Ravens signed Flacco to a three-year extension that will keep the quarterback under team control through the 2021 season, a move sufficient to keep the team's top receiving threats fantasy relevant. It makes sense for the Ravens. Flacco has been a winner since arriving in Baltimore in 2008 and is now entering his prime. Over the past eight seasons, his 85 total wins (including the playoffs) is the fourth most among NFL quarterbacks. Flacco posted the most regular-season wins (72) by a quarterback in his first seven seasons in NFL history. Last year, Flacco was on pace to set career and franchise highs in passing yards before he tore his ACL and MCL in Week 11 (although he remained in the game for two more snaps to get the win). At the time, his 2,791 passing yards ranked sixth in the league. Flacco's injury ended his ironman-like streak of 122 consecutive starts, which ranked fifth in the league. He had surgery in December and expects to be ready for training camp. Those looking for a rock-solid fantasy QB2 could do worse.